![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/rbdmfa-universal-credit-section-gov-577929852-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSTRUGGLING households on Universal Credit can get a cash boost to help make ends meet.<\/p>\n
The help comes via a budgeting advance, which might come in useful with energy bills and inflation so high.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The budgeting advance is not be confused with\u00a0an advance payment, which is a loan to help you through the five-week wait for your first\u00a0Universal Credit\u00a0payment.<\/p>\n
Here, we explain everything you need to know about the loans, who's eligible, what you can get and more.<\/p>\n
A budgeting advance is an interest-free loan which can be used to cover certain expenses such as furniture, household equipment and clothing.<\/p>\n
But, because it's a loan, that means you have to repay it.<\/p>\n
Make sure not to confuse the budgeting advance with an advance payment – this is a loan to help through the five-week wait for your first Universal Credit payment.<\/p>\n To get a budgeting advance, you must have:<\/p>\n The amount you can get depends on whether you can pay it back and whether you have any savings over \u00a31,000.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Your first \u00a31,000 of savings will be ignored, but the loan amount you are offered will be reduced by \u00a31 for every \u00a31 you have over that.<\/p>\n You can apply for a budgeting advance to cover things like:<\/p>\n The maximum you can get for a budgeting advance is \u00a3348 if you're single with no children or \u00a3464 if you are a couple with no children.<\/p>\n If you do have children, you can get up to \u00a3812 as a loan, if you or your partner claim Child Benefit.<\/p>\n The lowest amount you can get for a budgeting advance is \u00a3100.<\/p>\n A budgeting advance can be used to pay for emergency costs, including replacing a broken cooker, getting a job or staying in work or funeral costs.<\/p>\n It can also be used to pay for footwear or clothes.<\/p>\n Claimants who have taken out a budgeting advance loan have to pay it back within the first 12 months of getting it.<\/p>\n The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) deduct an amount from your Universal Credit payment every month, starting with your first one.<\/p>\n You can work out how much will be deducted from your payment every month by dividing the full cost of the loan by 12.<\/p>\n For example, if you borrowed \u00a3812 you will see roughly \u00a368 taken off your Universal Credit payment every month.<\/p>\n If you stop getting Universal Credit, you'll have to agree another way to repay the loan.<\/p>\n You can apply for a budgeting advance by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644, or 0800 012 1888 if you'd like to speak in Welsh.<\/p>\n An advisor will then look at whether you can pay the loan back – they'll see if you have any debts and how much you owe to help work this out. <\/p>\n The phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and you'll normally get a decision on the same day. <\/p>\n Alternatively, you can apply through your online account or speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach. <\/p>\n If your application is rejected, you can't appeal but you can ask for the decision to be looked at again. <\/p>\n It will help if you can give new evidence or show that your circumstances have changed since your first request.<\/p>\n If you're still rejected, you may be able to apply for help from the\u00a0Flexible Support Fund.<\/p>\n The money can be used to help cover the costs of things such as childcare, uniforms, or work tools as long as they help you get a job.<\/p>\n This is only supposed to be issued if all other options have been exhausted though.<\/p>\n Alternatively, it might also be worth seeing if you can get a grant to buy any white goods that have broken.<\/p>\n Turn2Us has a\u00a0free grants search tool\u00a0so you can find out what national and local charities are offering.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/NINTCHDBPICT000723909867.jpg\")
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How much can I get?<\/h2>\n
What can I use the budgeting advance for?<\/h2>\n
When do I pay the budgeting advance back?<\/h2>\n
How to apply for a budgeting advance<\/h2>\n
What can I do if my budgeting advance application gets rejected?<\/h2>\n
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